Come eat with me.

D.C. Cheap Eats: Mussels at Bistrot du Coin

There are a fair number of places to get a good bang for your buck in Washington, D.C.—if you know where to look and how to order. But close to Dupont Circle and certainly downtown, good, cheap food can be hard to find.

Tourists in town for Obama’s inauguration are likely to be disappointed if they stick to Au Bon Pain or the corner hotdog vendor for inexpensive meals. One can only take so many of our famous halfsmokes or Ben’s Chili Bowl fries. And honestly, even we D.C. residents could use few cheap dining out options in our back pockets.

Well, here’s one:

A “small” portion of mussels at Bistrot du Coin (1738 Connecticut Ave., NW) is, in fact, a heaping pot full of plump, fresh bivalves swimming (OK, hopefully not) in delicious sauce. An order will only set you back $8.95. “Moules Normandes,” dressed in a cream sauce with leeks, celery, diced potatoes, mushrooms, and bacon, are a meal in themselves. Be sure to ask for plenty of du Coin’s chewy baguette to mop up the savory sauce. The dish, washed down with a $4 bottle of Kronenburg 1664 lager, is a great deal.

Other excellent varieties include “Moules Mariniéres” (in white wine with onions, shallots, and parsley) and “La Traditionelle Mouclade des Charentes” (in a light cream sauce with curry). Plus, it’s just a fun place…so long as you’re laid back about relaxed service.